Samsung Galaxy S4 LCD to use new subpixel matrix

Android Authority heard rumors that Samsung is considering to use hexagonal or diamond shaped subpixels, instead of the traditional square or rectangular pixels on most screens, for the Galaxy S4 smartphone. This configuration would help the firm overcome the technical difficulities of creating an AMOLED screen with 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution.

As far as we know, the Samsung Galaxy S4 will feature a full HD AMOLED display measuring 4.99-inch across. To overcome the technical difficulties associated with building a full HD panel based on AMOLED tech, Samsung is reportedly considering using a novel type of subpixels. Instead of the classic square or rectangular pixels used on most types of displays, the display on the Galaxy S4 will reportedly feature hexagonal or diamond shaped subpixels, applied on the substrate using the LITI (laser-induced thermal imaging) process.

These new types of subpixels would allow Samsung to create super dense panels, with pixels per inch ratios well above the state of the art 441ppi that phones like the Xperia Z or the Droid DNA achieve. We’ve heard chatter about the display of the upcoming M7 boasting a record-breaking 468ppi, so it will be interesting to see how the Galaxy S4 does against it.